Day 05 - Ephesus, Ephesus Museum, St. John's Basilica

The beauty of blogs is that they offer a window into one person's unique experience. What touched my heart and mind during our journey through Ephesus is only a glimpse of the richness that we all experienced. I encourage you to ask your friends or loved ones who were there about their personal takeaways—they might offer insights I didn’t catch!

Ephesus—a city teeming with history, culture, and significance. Walking through its ancient ruins, you can almost feel the pulse of a once-great metropolis coming back to life. This was no small or insignificant town. In its day, Ephesus was one of the most important cities in Asia Minor, with a population of about 250,000—comparable to today’s bustling hubs like New York or Los Angeles. The city was a center of commerce, philosophy, and celebrity, drawing in people from all walks of life.

But what really sets Ephesus apart for us as believers is its unique role in the spread of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul saw in Ephesus a fertile ground for discipleship and transformation. In Acts 19, we learn that Paul stayed here for two years, sharing the message of Christ. Imagine what it must have been like, to sit in the Bouleuterion—where the greatest philosophers and apostles once debated—and hear the message of salvation. The Word took root, and miracles followed. Lives were changed as people believed, confessed, and repented. Ephesus, a city steeped in black magic and paganism, became a place of spiritual breakthrough.

The ripple effects of this transformation were dramatic. Acts 19:19 tells us that those who practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly—an act that marked a profound turning from the powers of darkness to the power of Christ. The impact was so great that it caused economic disruption. The silversmiths, whose livelihood depended on making idols of the goddess Artemis, stirred up a riot when they realized their income was at stake (Acts 19:23-41). Yet, even in this hostile environment, the local officials testified to the integrity of the Christians, saying, “You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess” (Acts 19:37). This is a powerful reminder that, as followers of Christ, we don’t need to tear down others’ beliefs to witness effectively. Our lives, lived in truth and love, speak for themselves.

As we toured the extravagant homes of Ephesus, with their mosaics and frescoes still visible, I was reminded of Paul’s words to Timothy: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17, NIV). The homes we saw were symbols of wealth, but they are now in ruins—just like so many things in this world that we might be tempted to trust in. God’s Word calls us to generosity and a hope that goes beyond earthly treasures.

The agora of Ephesus, one of the largest in ancient Turkey, was a bustling marketplace filled with traders from across the empire. Yet amidst the commerce and trade, slavery was also rampant, with the strongest and brightest taken from conquered lands. Infanticide was common, with unwanted babies left to die—until Christians began to intervene, saving these infants and raising them as their own. The Gospel was truly countercultural, not just in private belief but in public action. Lives were transformed as people turned from pagan gods to the living God, and from Ephesus, believers went out to spread the Good News far beyond Asia Minor.

There’s so much to digest from this visit, so many spiritual truths to reflect on. But as I walked through Ephesus, one scripture in particular kept coming to mind: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2, NIV). Just as the early Christians in Ephesus were called to walk in love amidst a pagan world, so too are we called to walk in love today.

As we reflect on the faith and perseverance of the early Church, let’s ask ourselves: What does it mean for us to walk in the way of love in our world today? How do we live out our faith in a culture that often mirrors the excesses, idolatries, and brokenness of ancient Ephesus? 

The answer lies in Jesus. He walked in love, even to the point of laying down His life, and He calls us to follow in His steps. As we continue to study, pray, and live out the Gospel, may our lives—like those of the believers in Ephesus—be a testimony to the transformative power of Christ.